Obstetrics Specialists

What is obstetrics?

Obstetrics, much like gynecology, deals with all areas of the female reproductive system. Obstetrics deals with pregnancy and the well-being of the pregnant mother, as well as the delivery and healthy outcome.

What does an OB do?

Obstetricians work closely with pediatricians in order to deal with the care of a newborn baby and to reduce the risk of any chance of mortality and disease of the newborn.

During pregnancy, the OB will:

• Monitor the health of the mother and the developing baby, including doing routine ultrasounds, measurements, and tests
• Check for health conditions that could cause problems during pregnancy or affect the baby's health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infections, and genetic disorders
• Advise the patient about diet, exercise, medications, and staying healthy
• Help the patient to cope with morning sickness, back and leg pain, heartburn, and other common pregnancy complaints
• Answer questions about pregnancy and the growing baby
• Explain what will happen during labor and delivery
• Works with nurses, nurse-midwives, physician assistants, and other health professionals to provide patient care
• May recommend that the patient and their partner attend pregnancy education or childbirth classes led by nurses or childbirth educators

The OB is also responsible for the healthy delivery of the baby and monitoring the patient's health while they recuperate.

Why would I need an OB?

If the patient is over 35 years old or has a high-risk pregnancy, they might make the decision to receive their prenatal care from an OB. Some women with high-risk pregnancies benefit from seeing an OB with advanced training in complicated pregnancies. If a family practice doctor or midwife is providing pregnancy care, and complications develop, the doctor will probably consult with or refer their patient to an OB. If the patient is healthy and anticipates a healthy, normal pregnancy, they still may prefer to get their care from an OB.